Thursday, August 11, 2016

A bill that proposes six months' maternity leave for all working women has been passed by the Rajya Sabha today, the second last day of the monsoon session. Tracking it closely was Maneka Gandhi, minister for women's welfare, who says it is the result of two years of hard work.The amendments to Maternity Benefits Act has been drafted by Mrs Gandhi's Ministry for Women and Child Development, but her colleague labour minister Bandaru Dattatreya introduced the bill in the upper house.

"All through the two years while we've been pushing for this, pregnant women have mailed me asking, `Is it through yet?" the minister said. They had asked for seven months' maternity leave, but the government settled on making it compulsory for all offices in the public and private sector to give six months.

This, the minister hopes, will go a long way in fixing the problem of a shrinking woman workforce. Mrs Gandhi said it would affect about 70 per cent of the woman workforce.

"You may ask if it will dissuade companies from hiring more women but I don't think so. I think women know how to multitask,'' she said.

The bill was to have been introduced in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, but then there was what government sources described as a "scheduling goof-up".

With only three days of the session left, they then decided to bring it first in the Rajya Sabha, since a bill introduced in that house does not lapse with the end of a session.

It was slotted for Wednesday in the Rajya Sabha, which then decided to put aside all work to debate the crisis in Kashmir. Many see the delay as symptomatic of how women's issues are prioritised.

31 of the 244 members in the Rajya Sabha are women. The 543 seat Lok Sabha has 61 women.

Sunday, August 07, 2016

The Central Government has introduced Bill in parliament, on 5th Aug 2016 to amend few provisions of EC Act and the proposals are as mentioned below:-

Every employer shall immediately at the time of employment of an employee, inform the employee of his rights to compensation under this Act, in writing as well as through electronic means, in English or in Hindi or in the official language of the area of employment’

Penalty of non-compliance of any provision of the Act is revised to Rs.50000/- minimum to Rs.100000/- maximum;

Appeal in the High Court has revised more than Rs.10000/- compensation from present Rs.300/-

On the direction of High Court commissioner can withheld payment of any sum in deposit with him – This provision is omitted;

Dear all,Good News for Exempted Establishment An Internal Circular dated 5.8.2016 issued by the EPFO to its Field Functionaries states that:

Section 17 of the EPF & MP Act stipulates that the Appropriate Government may, by Notification in Official Gazette and subject to such conditions as may be specified in the Notification exempt whether prospectively or retrospectively from the operation of all or any provisions of the any Scheme under the Act.

The conditions for grant of exemption under Section 17 of the Act have been notified under Notification No. GSR 853(E) dated 29.10.2003 and the revised Guidelines have come into force w.e.f. 10.10.2003.

The contribution to the Exempted PF Trust would get exemption from Income Tax provided the Trust is recognised/approved by the Income Tax Authorities.

The Regional Provident Fund Commissioners have been insisting on the Employers to submit the recognition/approval of the Trust by the Income Tax Authorities along with the Application for Exemption.

The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation have re-examined the issues and clarified that the Field Functionaries of the Department will not ask the Establishment seeking grant of exemption from the operation of the EPF Scheme, 1952 to furnish copy of Income Tax Recognition Order as an ‘Essential Document’ to be submitted with the proposal for grant of Exemption. However, immediately after grant of exemption by the Appropriate Government, the Establishment should get recognition from the Income Tax Authorities for its Trust.

Thursday, August 04, 2016

Social Security Agreement (SSA) between India and Japan was signed in Tokyo on November 16, 2012. The Ministry of External Affairs (Investment, Technology Promotion and Energy Security Division), the competent authority for negotiating and concluding SSAs along with the Employee’s Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) has completed the formalities for the Agreement to enter into force.

Social Security Agreement (SSA) between India and Japan was signed in Tokyo on November
16, 2012. The Ministry of External Affairs (Investment, Technology Promotion and Energy Security
Division), the competent authority for negotiating and concluding SSAs along with the Employee’s
Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) has completed the formalities for the Agreement to enter into
force. Now therefore, the Agreement on Social Security between India and Japan shall enter into
force with effect from 1st October, 2016

The Implementing Arrangement under the SSA and the Administrative Arrangement for
implementation of the agreement between the two countries were exchanged on 9th June 2016.
Earlier today the two sides have exchanged Note Verbales in accordance with Article 28 of the
Agreement notifying the completion of the respective constitutional and legal procedures required
for the entry into force of the Agreement. The Article 28 also mentions that the Agreement shall
enter into force on the first day of the fourth month following the date of receipt of last notification.

As on date, India has signed and operationalized similar comprehensive Social Security
Agreements (SSAs) with 15 countries. They are Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland,
France, Hungary, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, South Korea, Austria, and
Australia. We have also signed a comprehensive SSA with Portugal, which is in the process of getting
operationalized.

In addition, we have a partial SSA with Germany, which is already operationalized.
The comprehensive SSA between India and Japan when operational from 1st October 2016
will favourably impact the profitability and competitive position of Indian and Japanese companies
with foreign operations in either country by reducing their cost of doing business abroad. Thousands
of Indian and Japanese workers who are working in Japan and India respectively will benefit from the
agreement. The SSA will also help more Japanese companies to consider India as a destination for
their manufacturing investments.

Dear all,Enclosed is the Maharashtra Minimum Wages 1st July 2016 to 31st Dec 2016 , In the said Minimum wages revision Pls add 5% HRA( As per Maharashtra Minimum HRA Act 1983) if no of employee count is 50.

Pls refer to the said attach if anything have been missed out or any correction is to be done pls suggest me.

Monday, August 01, 2016

Pls refer to the attach circular dated 1st Aug 2016 from the Central PF Office where in all the field officer have been instructed to do the inspection of the respective establishment engaged in Security/Manpower/Facility Management. This is in regards to various complaints & grievance received regarding under reporting of employees contribution under the said act in respect of such establishment.

Pls refer to the respective screen shot where in EPFO had asked all the employer to upload the said information of Security/Manpower/Facility Management

As many employers have not completed the required process and due to lot of grievance has been received in regards no coverage of employees under EPF

A Special Inspection Proforma has been designed for the same

I would request all the Principal employer to upload the said details of the contractor (Security/Manpower/Facility Management) to avoid such inspection

Further also check with monthly EPF Challan where in all employees have been covered under the EPF act ,pls collect the ECR Copies/UAN Number/EPF Nos/activation of UAN etc whether all this activities have been full filled by the contractor.

Day Care Facilities as per New Maternity Act 2017

World of Children day care work exclusively in the day care space to offer customised solutions to create Corporate Creche Alliances!! Day care allows families to raise kids and pursue careers and boosts Gender diversity and inclusion, besides being a mandatory compliance as per Maternity Benefit Act 2017 For More Details Contact Sukanya Bhosale Cell: + 91 9820917666